IB Biology SL study plan
IB Biology SL · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Form and Function
Draw and label a generalized animal and plant cell from memory, then annotate each organelle with its function in one sentence
Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure by listing three shared and three distinguishing features
Explain how surface-area-to-volume ratio constrains cell size and predict which of two given cell dimensions diffuses more efficiently
Describe the fluid mosaic model and distinguish integral, peripheral, and glycoproteins by role
Your checkpoint
A one-page hand-drawn cell diagram set (prokaryote, animal, plant) with every label matched to a written function, self-marked against your textbook with errors listed
Form and Function
Trace the path of a protein from ribosome to exocytosis, naming each organelle and its contribution
Compare diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, and active transport on a table of gradient direction, energy use, and membrane protein requirement
Interpret a graph of osmosis in plant tissue and explain plasmolysis versus turgidity
Calculate water potential of a cell given solute potential and pressure potential values
Your checkpoint
A completed transport comparison table plus three worked water-potential calculations with correct units and sign conventions
Unity and Diversity
Classify organisms into the three domains and identify the defining features of each
Construct a dichotomous key that separates six named organisms using observable characteristics
Distinguish the binomial system rules for writing species names and correct three deliberately miswritten examples
Explain how molecular evidence such as ribosomal RNA sequences reshaped classification
Your checkpoint
A dichotomous key that a classmate can follow to identify six organisms without hints, plus a corrected species-name list
Unity and Diversity & Form and Function
Compare the four main tissue types by structure and function and give one organ example for each
Explain how structure-function relationships appear in at least three named organs
Describe adaptations of a named organism that suit it to its habitat and link each to a survival advantage
Answer ten mixed short-answer questions on unity and diversity and form and function under timed conditions
Your checkpoint
A timed 40-minute practice set of 10 short-answer questions scored with a mark scheme, with every lost mark rewritten as a corrected sentence
Continuity and Change
Describe the stages of mitosis in order and state one event that defines each stage
Explain the role of cyclins and checkpoints in controlling the cell cycle and predict the outcome of checkpoint failure
Outline the phases of meiosis and explain how crossing over and independent assortment generate variation
Distinguish mitosis from meiosis on chromosome number, daughter cells, and genetic outcome
Solve genetics problems using monohybrid and test crosses with correct Punnett square notation
Your checkpoint
A meiosis variation diagram plus five solved genetics problems showing genotypes, gametes, and ratios, all verified against a mark scheme
Continuity and Change
Explain the structure of DNA and how complementary base pairing supports semi-conservative replication
Describe transcription and translation in sequence and identify the roles of mRNA, tRNA, and ribosomes
Apply the genetic code to translate a given DNA sequence into an amino acid chain
Distinguish mutations by type and predict their effect on the polypeptide
Explain how gel electrophoresis or PCR is used in a named application
Your checkpoint
A translation exercise from a supplied DNA template through mRNA to amino acids, plus a written explanation of one mutation's consequence
Interaction and Interdependence
Distinguish species, population, community, and ecosystem and place given examples correctly
Explain energy flow through trophic levels and calculate energy transfer efficiency from given values
Describe the carbon cycle and identify two human activities that alter it
Interpret a food web to predict the effect of removing one species
Explain how a named abiotic factor limits a population and how a named biotic factor regulates it
Your checkpoint
A worked food-web and energy-transfer problem set with a written prediction of cascade effects, checked against your notes
Interaction and Interdependence & Continuity and Change
Explain how natural selection produces adaptation using a named example with heritable variation and selection pressure
Distinguish the mechanisms that drive evolution and describe evidence supporting the theory
Apply conservation concepts to a named case study, naming one in-situ and one ex-situ measure
Complete a full timed mock covering all four domains and review every error
Rank your weakest three topics and write a revision action for each
Your checkpoint
A completed timed mock under exam conditions with a scored error log that lists each mistake, its cause, and the corrected fact
Milestones
Week 2: You can label a cell diagram and complete a transport comparison table from blank paper with no notes, scoring at least 80 percent on a self-marked 10-question check
Week 4: You score at least 60 percent on the timed 10-question mixed set and can state the mark-scheme wording for every missed question
Week 6: You translate a 12-codon DNA sequence to amino acids with no errors and correctly classify five given mutations
Week 8: You finish a full timed mock within the time limit, score above your week-4 baseline, and have a three-item revision action list for the final review